Chapter 141
It started with Fatima barging into my room like she owned the place, which wasn’t unusual. What was unusual was the manic look on her face.
“She’s doing it again,” she announced, hands on her hips.
I blinked at her, groggy from the nap I’d been enjoying. “Doing what?”
“Being Tammy,” Fatima said, like that explained everything.
It kind of did.
“Ugh.” I rubbed my face and sat up. “What now?”
Fatima pointed dramatically toward the hallway. “She’s in the kitchen. Again. She’s trying to tell Sophie how to ‘properly’ bake cookies. And—oh, you’re going to love this—she called her ‘sweetheart.’”
I groaned. “Oh no.”
“Oh yes,” Fatima replied, grinning now. “It’s about to go down.”
Sophie was a saint, but there were limits to her patience. And Tammy? Tammy didn’t just push those limits—she drop-kicked them into oblivion.
I sighed, dragging myself out of bed. “Let’s go before Sophie strangles her and we have to hide the body.”
Fatima and I made our way to the kitchen, where we found Sophie standing stiffly by the counter, her jaw clenched so tight it was a miracle her teeth didn’t shatter. Tammy was perched on a stool, sipping tea like she was royalty.
“You know, darling,” Tammy said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, “if you’re going to bake cookies for the Alpha, you really should put in more effort. Presentation is everything.”
Sophie’s left eye twitched.
“Wow, Tammy,” I said, leaning against the doorway with my arms crossed. “You’re so helpful. Maybe you should show us how it’s done.”
Tammy turned to me, her smile so forced it looked painful. “Oh, I would, but I wouldn’t want to embarrass anyone with my skills.”
Fatima snorted, failing to hide her laughter.
Sophie, who had been holding a mixing bowl, slammed it down on the counter with enough force to make Tammy jump. “You know what, Tammy? Why don’t you bake the damn cookies? Since you’re so skilled and all.”
Tammy blinked, clearly not expecting Sophie to snap. “I—well—I would, but I just got my nails done.”
Fatima burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but join in. Sophie muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse.
Tammy, clearly flustered, tried to regain her composure. “It’s fine. I’ll just supervise.”
“Oh, please do,” Sophie said with mock enthusiasm. “Your expertise is invaluable.”
Tammy beamed, completely missing the sarcasm.
I shook my head, deciding it was time to step in before Sophie actually did something drastic. “Tammy, don’t you have something else to do? Like, I don’t know, literally anything that isn’t this?”
Tammy gasped, clutching her chest like I’d just insulted her entire lineage. “Ayla, I’m just trying to help!”
“Sure you are,” I said dryly.
She huffed and stood, smoothing down her dress. “Well, if my help isn’t appreciated, I’ll just go see if the Alpha needs anything.”
Fatima, Sophie, and I exchanged looks as Tammy flounced out of the kitchen.
“I can’t believe she called me sweetheart,” Sophie muttered, glaring at the door.
“I can’t believe she still thinks Jake gives a damn about her,” Fatima said, laughing. “The guy barely acknowledges her existence.”
I sighed, feeling the headache Tammy caused settling in. “How is she still here? Why hasn’t Jake thrown her out yet?”
“Politics,” Sophie said bitterly. “Stupid council nonsense.”
“Politics or not, she’s got to go,” Fatima said firmly. “I’m this close to shoving her into a closet and locking the door.”
I laughed, but honestly, it didn’t sound like a bad idea.
It wasn’t long before Tammy found a new way to make herself the center of attention.
Fatima and I were sitting in the living room, enjoying a rare moment of peace, when Tammy waltzed in wearing what I could only describe as an actual cocktail dress. It was bright pink, sequined, and so short it might as well have been a shirt.
“What is she wearing?” Fatima whispered, wide-eyed.
“I think it’s supposed to be a dress,” I replied, equally horrified.
Tammy spotted us and made her way over, her heels clicking loudly against the floor. “Oh, hello, ladies,” she said, flipping her hair dramatically.
“Going somewhere?” I asked, unable to hide my amusement.
“No,” Tammy said, striking a pose. “I just thought I’d dress up. You know, in case the Alpha happens to pass by.”
Fatima choked on her drink, coughing as she tried to hold back her laughter.
“Well, good luck with that,” I said, trying to keep a straight face.
As if on cue, Jake appeared in the doorway, fresh from training and looking as effortlessly handsome as ever. His shirt was damp with sweat, clinging to his toned body, and his hair was tousled in a way that made him look annoyingly attractive.
Tammy’s eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“Alpha!” she exclaimed, rushing over to him.
Jake barely glanced at her, clearly uninterested. “Tammy.”
“I was just about to go check on the workers,” she said, batting her lashes.
Fatima muttered something that sounded like, “Sure you were.”
Jake nodded absently, already looking like he regretted coming inside. He started to walk past her, but Tammy, in her infinite wisdom, decided this was the perfect time to be dramatic.
As he passed, she stumbled—deliberately, I might add—and fell against him.
“Oh!” she gasped, clutching his arm. “I’m so clumsy!”
Fatima covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. I, on the other hand, was too busy glaring at her to find the situation funny.
Jake steadied her, looking more annoyed than concerned. “Be careful,” he said flatly, stepping away from her.
Tammy blushed, giggling like a schoolgirl. “Thank you, Alpha. You’re so strong.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck.
Jake didn’t respond. He just walked past her and disappeared down the hallway.
Tammy turned to us with a triumphant smirk, clearly thinking she’d accomplished something.
Fatima raised an eyebrow. “Wow, Tammy. What a performance. You should consider acting.”
Tammy ignored her, flipping her hair again as she strutted out of the room.
As soon as she was gone, Fatima and I burst into laughter.
“Did you see her face when he brushed her off?” Fatima said, wiping tears from her eyes.
“I thought she was going to faint,” I replied, grinning.
“She really thinks she has a chance with him,” Fatima said, shaking her head.
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” I muttered, my wolf growling in agreement.
Dinner was another disaster.
Tammy spent the entire meal trying to flirt with Jake, leaning forward so much that I was worried she’d fall into her plate. She laughed obnoxiously at everything he said, even when it wasn’t remotely funny.
Jake, for his part, looked completely uninterested. He answered her questions with one-word responses and didn’t so much as glance in her direction.
“Alpha,” Tammy said, twirling a strand of her hair, “have you ever considered adding a jacuzzi to the training grounds? I think it would be a wonderful addition.”
Jake didn’t even look up from his plate. “No.”
Tammy pouted. “Oh, but it would be so relaxing! Don’t you think?”
“No,” Jake repeated, his tone flat.
Fatima snorted, and Sophie shot me a look that said, Can you believe this girl?
I was just about to say something when Tammy turned her attention to me.
“So, Ayla,” she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, “how does it feel to live in a house that’s far too grand for someone like you?”
The table went silent.
My wolf growled, but I forced a smile. “Pretty great, actually. Thanks for asking.”
Tammy opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, one of the twins—Lily—let out a loud cry.
“Oh no, what’s wrong, sweetheart?” I cooed, picking her up from her high chair.
Tammy rolled her eyes. “Ugh, I can’t stand crying babies.”
As if on cue, Lily turned her big, innocent eyes toward Tammy and flung a spoonful of mashed potatoes in her direction.
The entire table froze.
The potatoes hit Tammy square in the chest, leaving a huge, sticky mess on her dress.
Fatima choked on her drink, and Sophie covered her mouth to hide her laughter. Jake, to his credit, didn’t even flinch.
Tammy shrieked, jumping up from her seat. “You little brat!”
“Oops,” I said, trying—and failing—to look apologetic. “She’s just a baby. You can’t blame her.”
Tammy glared at me, but before she could say anything, Lily reached for her cup and knocked it over, spilling juice all over Tammy’s lap.
Fatima lost it, laughing so hard she had to clutch her stomach.
Tammy stormed out of the room, muttering curses under her breath.
As soon as she was gone, the room erupted into
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